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NUPENG And The Rest Of Us

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The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers
(NUPENG), last Monday in Lagos, issued a four-day notice to embark on a
nationwide strike should the Federal Government fail to effect payments of
outstanding fuel subsidy claims to importers of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)/depot
owners across the country.

While issuing the threat, President of NUPENG, Achese Igwe,
said that the action became imperative following government’s failure to pay
the subsidy claims, which the union argues, was a breach of an agreement it
reached with the government on July 27, 2012, and therefore, threatens the job
security of Nigerians working for the oil marketers as they (marketers) are now
unable to pay staff salaries.

NUPENG also insisted that the government needed to clear the
outstanding subsidy claims because it has refused to repair the refineries and
depots to enable them refine and store products for local consumption. The
union argued that fuel importation was a burden the Federal Government brought
upon itself by sheer neglect of the refineries, stating that it therefore,
behoves on the government to fulfil its obligations to Nigerians by paying
those licensed to import products.

The union said that government’s failure to pay the
outstanding subsidy claims to fuel importers, meant that its members working
for the private depot owners and others, who have been owed salaries for
months, would continue to suffer as long as government remained adamant,
stressing that this was in breach of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
signed with all stakeholders by government.

But in a swift reaction, Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala, said that the government would not pay subsidy to individuals
and companies indicted in the 2011 oil subsidy probe to which several billions
of naira had been siphoned from government’s coffers.

Okonjo-Iweala, who is also the Coordinating Minister of the
economy, stated that as long as the Economic and financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) had not concluded its prosecution of those accused of fraudulently
receiving monies from government in connection with fuel importation,
government will not release any payments to them until they refund the monies
they illegally collected.

While The Tide understands the union’s position over the
delay in fixing the refineries and depots, and the fact that its members
working for some of the companies indicted in the subsidy probe reports may be
suffering as a result of the inability of their employers to pay them salaries
as and when due, we seriously disagree with the union’s stand that industrial
action is the best option available.

The Tide reckons that NUPENG has an inalienable right to
protest and ensure improved welfare for its members, but the union should also
realise the fact that where its rights end, the rights of other Nigerians
begin. Without a doubt, the union has to respect the rights of others to
peaceful socio-economic lives and demand its members’ rights in such a way that
they do not infringe on the rights of others.

We indeed believe that there are other means of resolving
such conflicts, especially through dialogue and negotiations with all parties
as well as enlisting the services of the courts of competent jurisdiction to
adjudicate on the matter to ensure that justice was served instead of
attempting to be the accuser, the judge and the executioner in its own matter.

For us, the NUPENG’s threat is a deliberate ploy to
blackmail the government into paying undeserving petroleum marketers for
services they did not render.  This, in
itself aims at perpetuating official corruption which every well meaning
Nigerian stands against.

We rather expect NUPENG to mount pressure on the petroleum
marketers to comply with the due process and get their pay instead of trying to
blame the ordinary Nigerians. NUPENG should be civil enough to dialogue with
the Federal Government on the subsidy payment issues with a view to finding a
sustainable solution to the impasse and nothing more.

Plunging the nation into any strike at this time would
subject millions of Nigerians into another period of suffering and drain the
struggling economy. Besides, the security challenges facing the nation would
further be given fillip by creating window for hoodlums to take advantage of
the atmosphere to cause instability and threaten the peace of the nation.

Nigerians are not ready now for any strike that would cripple
the system just to satisfy the selfish interest of a few. We think that it is
time to call the NUPENG bluff. NUPENG should realise that it is not the only
industrial union in Nigeria, and that its excesses should not be allowed to
hurt any Nigerian anymore. Nigerians deserve to lead their normal lives without
any distractions from another round of fuel strike.

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Eazipay  Offers Zero-Interest Loans To  150,000 SMEs, Employees

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With a mission to ignite growth, encourage business continuity and help businesses and employees thrive, Eazipay is gearing up to propel the dreams of 150,000 SMEs and employees to new heights through her relief fund.
Gone are the days of financial constraints and stifled dreams. With Eazipay’s support, SMEs and employees alike can bid farewell to limitations and embrace a world of endless possibilities.
Whether it’s start up,  business expansion or personal development, Eazipay is here to make dreams come true.
The mind-blowing initiative, which  kicked off this month, would end in December, and will also offer a range of perks and benefits designed to put a smile on the faces of SMEs and employees alike.
From exclusive discounts to various advisory services and beyond, Eazipay is committed to spreading happiness and creating lasting impact in people’s lives and to the growth of businesses.
The technology company which offers products and services that range from payroll management to IT/Device management and assessments, “Eazipay isn’t just providing financial support but also unleashing a wave of growth and prosperity for SMEs and employees across the nation.
“Interested businesses and individuals can take part in this initiative directly from the Eazipay website: www.myeazipay.com”.

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SMEs Critical For Sustainable Dev – Commissioner

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The Commissioner of Finance, Lagos State, Abayomi Oluyomi, has described Small and medium Enterprises (SMEs) as a critical engine for sustainable development in any economy.
He said this recently at the 10th anniversary of the Alert Group Microfinance Bank and the opening of their new head office in Lagos.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, SMEs accounted for about 50 per cent of Nigeria’s gross.
He commended the positive impact of the Alert MFB as it empowers SMEs in the State.
“Alert MFB in the past 10 years has been at the forefront of empowering SMEs in Lagos State, disbursing over N30bn in loans to over 30,000 individuals having small to medium businesses over that period, which is quite remarkable”, he said.
Speaking, the Group Managing Director of Alert Group, Dr Kazeem Olanrewaju, revealed that the financial institution commenced business in 2013 as a microfinance bank.
“We started this journey in 2013 and it has been expanding. Today, they have about 10 branches across Lagos. They have supported well over 30,000 clients and have disbursed over N30bn.
“The company has been profitable since the second year. Looking at the market and the available opportunity, the Alert MFB board decided to come together to establish a Microfinance Institute (MFI), which is the Auto Bucks Lenders”, Dr. Olanrewaju said.
The GMD further stated that the company was focused more on supporting businesses and small and medium enterprises.
“The loan to support business represents over 98 per cent. The consumer loans you will see are the ones given to entrepreneurs. So, the area of focus of Alert MFB and Auto Bucks Lenders is to support businesses across the country.
“With the establishment of Auto Bucks Lenders, we have the opportunity to also do business outside Lagos. So, presently, we have offices in Ogun State and Oyo State. We intend to go to every part of Nigeria to support what we are doing”, he declared.

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Retailers Explain Price Drop In  Cement Cost

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The cement market, in the last couple of weeks, has seen a significant turnaround with prices tumbling from between N10,000 and N15,000 per 50kg bag to between N7,000 and N8,000.
The sudden rise in the prices of cement and other major building materials in February this year upsets  the construction industry, especially in real estate, where many developers were forced to abandon building sites.
A recent market survey conducted by The Tide’s source in different locations across the country confirmed a price drop, ranging between N7,000 and N7,500 per bag, though BUA cement is selling for N7,500 to N7,800 per 50kg bag, depending on location.
Both entrepreneurs and major distributors who were interviewed,  explained that the price drop is due to low demand and government’s intervention.
At the peak of the price hike, the Federal Government called a meeting with major producers where it was agreed that a bag of cement should be between for N7,000 to N8,000, depending on location.
But the producers did not comply with this agreement immediately, followin which “Nigerians stopped demanding for cement; many project sites were abandoned as developers sat back and waited for the prices to come down.
“So, what has happened is an inter-play of demand and supply with price responding, which is Economics at work”, Collins Okpala, a cement dealer, told the source in Abuja.
In the Nyanya area of the Federal Capital Territory, a 50-kg bag of Dangote cement now sells for between N7,000 and N7,500, while BUA cement sells for between N8,500 and N9,500, down from between N11,000 and N12,000 respectively.
In Lagos, the product has seen significant price drop too. In Ojo area of the state, Sebastin Ovie, a dealer, told our reporter that what has happened is a crash from the January price, attributing the crash to low demand and stronger naira.
“The current price of the product is between N7,000 and N7,500 per 50kg bag, depending on the brand. This is a significant drop from the average of N12,000 which most dealers were selling in February and March”, he said.
A dealer in Agege area of the state who identified himself as Taofik Olateju, told the source that sales are picking up due to the drop in price.
He recalled that Nigerians at a point stopped buying due to the high price of the product at N15,000 per bag.
“I am sure most dealers ran at a loss then because we had mainly old stocks which we wanted to offload quickly”, he said, confirming that the product sells for between N7,500 and N8,000, depending on the brand and the demand for the brand.
Continuing, Olateju noted that “because the naira is now doing well against the dollar, it will be unreasonable for manufacturers to continue to sell the product at the old prices. I also believe that the federal government’s intervention and the threat to license more importers may have worked, leading to the reduction in price”.
In Enugu, the source reports that the product sells for between N7,200 and N7,500 depending on the brand and location.
“This is a city where the price of a 50kg bag went for as high as N12,000 and N13,000 in some cases in February and March”, Samuel Chikwendu said.
He added that the prices of other building materials, especially iron rods, have also dropped considerably which is why, he said, activities are picking up again at construction sites.
The story is slightly different in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, where Innocent Okonkwo told the source that low demand was also driving the price drop, adding that a 50kg bag was selling for N9,000 on the average in the state.
Sundry market observers are optimistic of further price reductions, but they remain cautious as manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers continue to play critical roles in setting prices for end-users.
They lamented, however, that despite Nigeria’s status as one of the largest producers of cement in Africa, the price of the product continues to rise, particularly in the face of high inflation impacting the building materials market generally.
Okpala in Abuja highlighted the variations arising from direct sourcing from manufacturers versus procurement through dealers, with traders holding old stocks selling products at prices ranging from N8,500, N8,300 to N8,000 per bag.
Lucy Nwachukwu, another dealer in Abuja, said the significance of  procurement volume in determining cement costs, noting that stability in prices has been observed over the past month, with the product retailing for between N7,000 and N7,800 depending on the brand.
In Port Harcourt also, a customer, Daniel Etteobong Effiong, said the price goes between N7500 to N8500, depending on the brand and the location one is buying from.

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